TV’s ‘Breaking news’ culture should end: Kerala speaker

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 3 (IANS) The growing “Breaking News” culture in the broadcast media should end as it is impacting the society, Kerala assembly Speaker N. Sakthan said on Thursday.

“I wish to find out if there can be any law that is there or can be brought to rein in this sort of ‘Breaking News’ culture, which has now crossed all limits,” Sakthan said.

The issue was first raised by state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in the assembly.

“…TV news channels are coming out with statements made by accused in numerous cases and then these are aired as breaking news. This is atrocious because this affects political leaders, ministers and those who hold high offices,” Chennithala said.

He was responding to the latest allegation of sleaze that came out on Wednesday when Biju Radhakrishnan, the prime accused in the solar scam case, testified before the judicial commission that he had with him video evidence of Saritha Nair, the second accused in the solar scam, in compromising position with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and two other state ministers.